After Jun Changxiao destroyed Black Wind Stronghold, he took Zhou Tianba’s Azure Dragon Cleaving Blade, originally planning to use it himself. He never expected it would come in handy as proof.

When Wei Yile and Wei Yiai saw the Azure Dragon Cleaving Blade, they deliberately exchanged glances. The two had been to Black Mountain before and had met Zhou Tianba, so naturally they recognized this greatsword that used to sit in front of his tiger-skin chair.

Could Black Wind Stronghold really have been destroyed by him?

Impossible, impossible!

A Meridian Opening stage rookie absolutely couldn’t have done it. There must be hidden circumstances!

Jun Changxiao said, “Since City Lord Xie knows this blade belongs to Zhou Tianba, would Jun using it as proof be acceptable?”

City Lord Xie pondered deeply.

He found it truly difficult to believe that this Tiegu Sect Master could destroy Black Wind Stronghold. However, according to the investigation, aside from corpses, nothing remained in the stronghold. Now that the Azure Dragon Cleaving Blade had been produced, there were only two possibilities.

First, after Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed, he was the first to arrive at Black Mountain.

Second, he was present when Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed, but someone else did the deed.

“Sect Master Jun.”

City Lord Xie said, “Could you explain the process of destroying Black Wind Stronghold?”

“Ding!”

“Side mission triggered.”

Here we go again?

Jun Changxiao opened his attribute panel. The side mission was—Make City Lord Xie recognize the host as the one who destroyed Black Wind Stronghold [Incomplete].

“It seems producing the Azure Dragon Cleaving Blade still can’t convince him.”

Sect Master Jun was silent for a moment, then said, “City Lord Xie, in truth, with just Jun’s abilities alone, destroying so many bandits would be impossible.”

City Lord Xie said, “Someone assisted you?”

Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, “Not a person—a spirit.”

“A spirit?”

City Lord Xie was confused.

Jun Changxiao said with a straight face, “To be precise, a heroic spirit.”

“Heroic spirit?” City Lord Xie understood even less.

Jun Changxiao said, “City Lord Xie, do you know that my Iron Bone Clank Clank Sect was once an ancient sect?”

“I’ve heard something about it.”

City Lord Xie had heard about it long ago.

However, after learning that Tiegu Sect originated from Iron Bone Mountain in the Prideful Kingdom of the Eastern Sea, his assessment could be summed up in four words: complete nonsense.

Jun Changxiao said, “Although my Iron Bone Clank Clank Sect no longer has its former glory, the heroic spirits of our ancestors remain. In times of crisis, they possess Jun’s body and provide tremendous power.”

City Lord Xie said in surprise, “Such things exist in this world?”

“Yes.”

“You mean the heroic spirits of your ancestors possessed your body, and then you destroyed Black Wind Stronghold in one fell swoop?”

“Correct.”

Jun Changxiao nodded.

As a Meridian Opening stage rookie himself, destroying Black Wind Stronghold was too shocking and unprecedented, so he fabricated an ancestor’s heroic spirit. They had no way to verify it anyway.

“Tsk tsk.”

City Lord Xie said, “How truly mystical and supernatural.”

Wei Yiai said, “City Lord Xie, this boy is spouting nonsense. Don’t believe him lightly.”

Wei Yile said with a smile, “Sect Master Jun, I’d like to ask—if Tiegu Sect has ancestral heroic spirits that can possess people, why would it have fallen to ninth-rate?”

Jun Changxiao said indifferently, “My sect’s first sect master once defied the heavens. Later he was suppressed beneath Five Finger Mountain, and the sect suffered heaven’s curse, which is why it declined over the years to this state.”

If he couldn’t round out his lies, what kind of bullshit would he be bragging?

Speaking of which, Sect Master Jun’s embellishment of Tiegu Sect’s history was shameless to a degree comparable to a certain small island nation in East Asia.

“All lies!”

“This is spreading deceptive nonsense!”

No matter how much Jun Changxiao bragged, the Wei Yile brothers still didn’t believe him, because it involved their grudge.

City Lord Xie smiled and said, “Sect Master Jun, could you demonstrate this heroic spirit possession?”

Jun Changxiao said rather helplessly, “Ancestral heroic spirit possession can be encountered but not sought. Jun is unable to demonstrate it.”

“Hmph.”

Wei Yiai said, “After all that talk, you’re still lying.”

Wei Yile added insult to injury, “This so-called heroic spirit possession is pure nonsense. How could City Lord Xie be fooled by a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you?”

Jun Changxiao ignored the two and said, “City Lord Xie, this is the process of destroying Black Wind Stronghold. Zhou Tianba’s greatsword is here too. Whether you believe it or not, this seat will say no more.”

Why isn’t it complete yet?

It seems City Lord Xie is a bit hard to fool.

The system said, “He’s at least a city lord. He’s eaten more roads than the rice you’ve walked—naturally he won’t believe so easily.”

“True.”

Wait!

Eaten roads, walked rice?

My system, if you’re uneducated, can you please not speak nonsense? You’re about to blow my mind.

“Ding!”

“Congratulations, host has completed the side mission and obtained 10 sect contribution points.”

“Ding!”

“Contribution points: 86/100.”

System: “…”

Jun Changxiao: “…”

City Lord Xie smiled and said, “The matter that has confused this City Lord for many days is finally resolved.”

“Sect Master Jun.” He stood up and cupped his fists, “This seat thanks you here on behalf of the people of Qingyang Prefecture for eliminating Black Wind Stronghold, which has plagued us for years.”

Wei Yile and his companion were instantly dumbfounded.

Such wildly absurd nonsense—the City Lord believed it?

Jun Changxiao was also a bit stunned, but maintained a straight face and said, “As a member of Qingyang Prefecture, it’s my duty to act chivalrously. As a sect master, it’s my duty to rid the people of harm!”

“Well said—act chivalrously! Well said—rid the people of harm!”

City Lord Xie’s eyes held appreciation. With a wave of his hand, a thousand taels of gold appeared arrayed on the tea table. “This City Lord never mistreats righteous heroes. Sect Master Jun, take it!”

Storing the gold in his spatial ring, Jun Changxiao cupped his fists and said, “Many thanks!”

He didn’t even decline once—this guy’s face was truly thick.

“City Lord Xie.”

Wei Yiai came out to cause trouble again, saying, “A thousand taels of gold is a large sum. Please consider carefully, lest certain people take it for nothing.”

“That’s right.”

Wei Yile smiled and said, “Who knows if that blade is authentic? Please reconsider, City Lord.”

Damn it.

You think I’m giving you face, don’t you?

Jun Changxiao said coldly, “Ever since this seat entered, you two elders have been targeting me at every turn. Isn’t that a bit of bullying?”

Wei Yile smiled and said, “Sect Master Jun, don’t misunderstand. We’re just discussing the matter objectively.”

“Discussing objectively?”

Jun Changxiao gripped the blade’s hilt and said, “Whether it’s authentic or not, this seat will fight you. Won’t that verify it?”

“Fine,” Wei Yile said readily.

…

On the training ground.

Jun Changxiao stood holding the Azure Dragon Cleaving Blade, thinking to himself, “How much time is left on the Swift Movement Talisman?”

The system said, “20 minutes.”

“20 minutes then.”

A smile appeared at the corner of Jun Changxiao’s mouth. “After dealing with these two guys, it still won’t delay returning to the sect.”

“Snap!”

Wei Yile produced his nine-section whip, looking toward the spectating City Lord Xie and saying, “Blades and swords have no eyes. If there’s any accident, please bear witness, City Lord Xie.”

This guy’s aim wasn’t really to verify the blade’s authenticity.

“Fine.”

City Lord Xie seemed to enjoy watching the excitement and said, “This City Lord will bear witness. Blades and swords have no eyes—death or injury is one’s own responsibility.”

After receiving this answer, Wei Yile looked at Jun Changxiao, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. “Sect Master Jun, are you ready?”

“Come on,” Jun Changxiao said.

“Whoosh!”

Wei Yile channeled Wutu-level spiritual power into his nine-section whip and swung it violently. Immediately it struck like a long serpent, with great power and a tricky angle—clearly intending to severely wound or kill his target.

“His hand is really heavy,” City Lord Xie shook his head.

He’d heard about the grudge between the two sects at the city’s training ground, but he hadn’t expected the Lingquan Sect elder to use lethal force right from the start.

Could that guy dodge?

As he pondered, he saw Jun Changxiao in his field of vision take a step forward, dragging afterimages, dodging the whip strike at extreme speed.

“This…”

City Lord Xie’s expression froze.

“Swish!”

At that exact moment, Jun Changxiao circled behind Wei Yile. His gaze suddenly turned cold and sharp as his greatsword swung, dragging a blade shadow that slashed over.

“Shlick!”

The sound of flesh being severed rang out. Wei Yile’s head flew directly into the air.

Jun Changxiao stood behind the corpse, maintaining his slashing posture, his face expressionless as he said, “Elder Wei, this blade—is it real or not?”